Lieberman,
McCain Call for Commission to Investigate Terrorist Attacks
-Senators
Introduce Legislation to Create Bipartisan Board of Inquiry-
Thursday, December 20, 2001
WASHINGTON
- Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.,
and Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., Thursday introduced
legislation that would create a bipartisan commission to
investigate the circumstances surrounding the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001, and evaluate the United
States’ preparedness for, and response to, the attacks.
“We want this commission to be nonpartisan and
independent,” Lieberman said. “It must be a hunt for the truth, not a witch hunt.
The initial weeks and months after September 11 were -
understandably and appropriately -preoccupied with mourning
and healing, and then with the war on terrorism.
But since the first stage of the war is now drawing to
a close with the defeat of the Taliban - and with many
perplexing questions left unanswered - this is the right time
to begin in earnest the process of finding answers to our
questions.”
"To prevent future tragedies, we need a thorough,
nonpartisan, independent inquiry into what happened on
September 11th, and what we can do to protect our people and
our institutions against the enemies of freedom in the
future," said McCain.
"I am confident that with the President's support,
this commission's recommendations can serve as a guidepost for
the reform and invigoration of America's homeland
defenses."
The bill would establish the National Commission on
Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, composed of 14
appointed members. Four
members, including the Commission’s chairperson, will be
named by the President, and ten members will be selected by
Congressional committee chairs.
No more than seven members may be of the same political
party.
The Commission will report on its findings,
conclusions, and recommendations, including proposing
organization, coordination, planning, management arrangements,
procedures, rules and regulations, to the President and
Congress twice - initially, six months after the Commission
holds its first meeting, and again no more than one year after
the submission of the first report.
The primary functions of the Commission will be to:
8 Conduct
an investigation into the facts and circumstances relating to
the attacks of September 11, 2001, including any relevant
legislation, executive order, regulation, plan, practice, or
procedure; and
8 Review
and evaluate the lessons learned from the terrorist attacks
regarding the structure, coordination, and management
arrangement of the Federal Government in detecting,
preventing, and responding to terrorist attacks.
Summary
and
Copy of the Bill |